Ayr United back for pre-season

Jul 3 2009 by Mike Wilson

AYR UNITED are running the rule over a Latvian youth internationalist as they try to land a second goalkeeper.

A physical striker and one other player are also being sought as boss Brian Reid bids to beef up his newly promoted squad for the First Division.

Ayr will play Stranraer in a closed doors bounce game this weekend before heading to their five day Austrian training camp. And there they are set to face top Czech league side FC Viktoria Plzen in the Salzburg area before returning to play the Romanian champions at Somerset Park.

Reid hopes to add Kenny Connolly and David Gormley to his growing full-time complement and feels it would benefit the young duo to step up.

Goalies Artur Vaiculis, who spent last season at Rangers, and former St Mirren youngster Ally Semple are training with the squad who reported back last weekend.

Semple, who also had a spell at Cumnock, is a more likely candidate for the under 19s but Reid won’t rule out any youngster in his search for a challenger to Stephen Grindlay.

Reid said: “Ideally, I would like another experienced keeper who can come straight in and make a mark. However, we can’t fork out fortunes and it’s all about affordability.

“I am looking at Vaiculus, who was released by Rangers and also have another couple of irons in the fire. We might think of a loan from an SPL club.”

Reid had to cut out a couple of runs from Monday evening’s training as temperatures soared. But he says his players have reported back in good nick after their summer break.

He revealed: “They all look reasonably fit and I’m confident for next season. We have lined up a tough pre-season schedule so we can’t be accused of taking easy games.”

Ayr will return to play Champions League entrants Unirea Urziceni at Somerset on Wednesday, July 15, followed by St Mirren on Saturday 18 and St Johnstone on Monday 20.